Modern technology might sound better, hold more songs and be easier to use than the vintage stuff, but it sure doesn’t have the same visual impact as a classic phonograph. Fortunately with this iPhonograph you get the stunning classic style blended with the beauty of new technology. If you’ve got the skills, Instructables has the steps to make your own.

Link Via Geekosystem

Ever want to make your own sweet Cyclops visor? Well then head over to Lounge Geeks where you can learn how to make your own for less than $30. Now that’s a value for some sweet style.

Link Via io9

(Video Link)

Ever wish you could be a real assassin like Altaïr or Ezio? Then try your hand at making this handy assassin blade, but just don’t lose your hand in the process.

Via The Daily What

For all you DIY enthusiasts who also happen to remember when boomboxes ruled the sidewalks, the creator of this masterpiece Matt Keeter has posted patterns and instructions on how you can make your own wooden boombox and bring sexy back.

For a cost of about $100, and a few hours of your time, you too can show the world your old school flavor without having to travel back in time, or close out your bank account.

Link –via Geekosystem

Here’s an inspired idea for all of you DIYers with tons of useless RAM sitting around, a Christmas tree made of RAM chips that would make the ultimate geek gift. And really, what else are you going to do with all that 128mb RAM you have squirreled away in a box somewhere?

Link –image via Adam from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

In response to the earlier item on chicken coops, Neatoramanaut NickDanger3dEye let us know about the 12-sided coop he and his son built.

I got the basic idea for a plywood dodecahedron from a late 60s Popular Science magazine article I read in my youth. The author of that article built it as a meditation space, with a circular hole cut in one panel. Instead, we hinged one panel and put a hook and eye at the top, so we could lock up the chickens overnight, safe from raccoons and other varmints.

One other point, we hung a heat lamp from the top to warm the chickens during the winter. At night, the red light leaks through the vertices.

My son’s friends have been unpersuasive in trying to talk us into painting numbers on the side to make it look like a D12.

I would throw my vote to paint it as a die! An octahedral laying box was his next attempt at working his way through all the Platonic solids. Link to Flickr page.

We showed you the night lights that Jason Hull (jayfish) makes out of vintage cameras. He has since opened an Etsy store, although the inventory is a little thin so far. But you can make your own! Hull has also posted the process for converting old flash cameras into night lights at Instructables. Link

T Zero made this arm sculpture from the movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day out of spare parts. Then he gives you the process so you can make your own. However, you should be aware that it’s only two inches tall! Still, having on of these on your desk would be pretty cool. Link -via Everlasting Blort

Meaghan Mountford shows you step-by-step how to make your own frightening Frankenstein Marshmallow Pops for a ghoulishly glorious Halloween treat! Any recipe that calls for “candy eyes” is alright by me. Can you get those at the corner market? Link -via Laughing Squid

Experiment 1A: Participants either inspected an IKEA pre-built box or assembled it themselves.  Afterward, they were asked to bid on the box they had either seen or built.  If their bid was above a random number, they would pay that amount to keep the box; if it was lower, they couldn’t keep it.  Participants were also asked to self-report on the value of the box.  An effect was found in both cases; on average, participants bid 62% more when they built the box versus when they simply inspected it.  On average, participants also self-reported liking the self-built box more than the inspected boxes.

Other experiments used origami creations and LEGO sets, and the same effect was noted. Read more about it at NeoAcademic. Link -via Boing Boing

(YouTube Link)

It’s something we rarely have to think about in America, but in developing countries people are lucky enough to have a roof over their heads, much less indoor lighting. Houses are dark during the day, and lack of interior light is a serious problem that, as it turns out, has a dead simple solution.

Soda bottles are collected, filled with water and bleach, then sealed and fitted into ceiling panels to act as brilliant mini skylights. This project, called Isang Litrong Liwanag, or A Liter Of Light, aims to show people across the globe how they can install these bottle lights for themselves and bring some light into their lives.

-via Ology

But what exactly is American cheese? I suppose it’s that exact question that gives it such a bad rap. The American cheese that you find on supermarket shelves isn’t cheese made in the traditional way (milk that’s formed into curds and pressed). Instead, it’s either a blend of cheese and additives, or it’s a highly processed mixture of ingredients such as water, milk, milkfat, milk protein, whey, food coloring, flavorings, and emulsifiers.  I wanted to get as close as possible to the taste and texture of American cheese using only pantry ingredients and a food processor.

By making your own American cheese, not only will you know exactly what went into it, but also you can add in flavorings such as black pepper, roasted red peppers… you name it. As I concocted my version of American cheese in the test kitchen, not only did I draw a crowd of curious onlookers, I caused all of the snooty foodies to run for the hills. That’s okay, because I’d take any kind of American cheese over head cheese any day.

The process of making your own doesn’t look too difficult, with directions from Yvonne Ruperti at America’s Test Kitchen. Link -via the Presurfer

Link (Photo: Shutterstock)

Look at this tie -isn’t it awesome? It’s like the ties worn in the Kraftwerk video for the song “The Robots.” Nine LEDs flash in descending order, guaranteeing you’ll be noticed. You can make your own, too, and be the robot of the party, with instructions from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. Link

Dress up a plain pair of shoes for a special occasion by making your own Twinkle Toes, colorful ruffles that contain LEDs to show off your fancy footwork. Becky Stern takes you through the process step-by-step, plus a video tutorial. Link -via Laughing Squid

Love your iPhone, but wish it had a homier feel? Never fear – now you can use your best needlework skills to cozy up your case. For just $18, you get an embroidery-friendly case, plus embroidery thread in the appropriate colors to make whichever design you choose. You can also just use their grid paper to make your own design, if you want to take your DIY-ness to the next level. I think the kitties are hilarious, but you could also go more geek-like with Mario or the Apple or Superman logos.

Link via Design.org

This cool lamp gives an eerie glow as the tractor beam from a UFO finds an Earthling to beam up and study. You may have seen this type of alien abduction lamp for sale, in stores or on the internet, but you can make one yourself for about five dollars! The instructions are at Dollar Store Crafts. Link -via Nag on the Lake

Nick McBride of Juniata College sent in pictures of some fun his department had with leftover Macintosh computer boxes. They made furniture out of them!

The couch that we put together can hold 2 or 3 people, has built in
cup holders, and would retail for $12,000 (if you purchased the Macs
to make it). We kept all the internal foam pieces to further reinforce
the sitting areas.

The easy chair was built the same way.

-Thanks, Nick!

First off, it’s awesome to have a Princess Leia costume. You know, with the buns and all. But how cool is it to have a Princess Leia costume made of duct tape? Yeah, that’s what this is!

Lindsay Boo Barrasse made this out of tons of duct tape. She gives us some details about how it was done:

the dress lining is a white button down shirt and a pillow case for
the skirt – all put together as one piece

I used 4 1/2 rolls of 15 yard white duct tape, one roll of black for the hair and one roll of silver.

the belt buckle piece was a vintage bucket painted with silver nail polish and a small piece of cut cardboard

my blaster is an authentic star wars blaster hasbro 2004

The dress would be a modern size 2-4

Definitely a conversation-starter!

Visit Lindsay at YouTube or at her website. -Thanks, Lindsay!

Link

- Sugar trap. I was optimistic about this one: Dumping a quarter cup of sugar into an open mason jar, then filling the jar halfway with water. The hypothesis is that the flies are attracted to the sugar, then fall into the jar and drown. But I guess the flies here laugh in the face of such low-tech devices, instead preferring to walk down the sides of the jar, sip the nectar and fly out. Two fell in, though. Bottom line: Doesn’t really work.

- Dish soap trap. Instead of sugar, pour an inch of liquid dish soap directly into the jar, then add another inch of water. This worked nicely to trap flies. However, not all liquid dish soap fared well. A floral scent didn’t attract flies to the trap, but a green apple scent beckoned the flies to their doom. Definitely go for a fruit scent. Bottom line: This works. Be sure to use a fruit-scented dish soap.

Other methods were tried and rated for their effective as well. Link -via Breakfast Links

(Image credit: Flickr user Refracted Moments™)

Is there any movie creature more cuddly than the Facehugger from Alien? Ha! Still, if you want a plush version of this monster, you can make your own Facehugger Pillow Pet with guidance from Kaisei13 at Instructables. Link -via io9

The latest do-it-yourself project from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories is this footstool made in the shape of a 555 timer chip. It’s a heavy-duty design, made from plywood, glue, and paint. Link -via Laughing Squid

The first time I got my eyes to move independently, it made me recoil.

Close one eye and you get to watch it open again with the other. Tilting or turning your head causes the mirror image to move the opposite way; it reflects you as other people actually see you, apart from the missing chunk of face between your eyes. Tilt the Looty 45 degrees and your reflection turns through 90. It also emphasizes differences in color perception.

It seems to be a source of brief amusement for anyone who picks it up. Yesterday, a guest turned it on its side and used it to inspect his nose hair.

If you’ve ever made or played with one of these, let us know what you think. Link -via reddit

As far as at-home science experiments go, this one is both kid-friendly and non-explosive. It’s a great way to illustrate non-Newtonian flow and magnetic attraction to kids, but it’s also cool enough to keep grown-ups hanging around to see what happens. For the full instructions for making your own magnetic putty, check out the post on instructables by user mikeasaurus. Link

via GeekDad

Image: Calsidyrose [Flickr]

RadioShack was founded by two brothers who wanted to provide equipment for the then-new field of ham radio. Over the next few decades, the company grew to become a large behemoth by appealing to the DIY community.

Then came rounds of scandals, getting their clocks cleaned by cheaper competitors, and The Shack rebranding (I mean, I understand, "radio" is something today's youth associate with their grandmothers).

Now, the company is trying to return to its DIY roots, as it explains in this blog post and video clip. Mike Nathan of Hackaday blog wrote:

What used to be a haven for amateur radio operators, tinkerers, and builders alike has devolved into a stripmall mainstay full of cell phones and overpriced junk. RadioShack knows that they have fallen out of your good graces, and since you are the demographic that put them on the map, they are appealing to the DIY community for input.

They want to know what is important to you – what you would like to see at your local RadioShack, and what would bring you back through their doors. Obviously price is a huge concern, especially with online outlets like Digikey and Mouser just a few clicks away. At the end of the day however, if you require a component RIGHT NOW, it would be nice to have the ability to grab some parts locally.

We’re well aware of the fact that this is all part of a marketing scheme, but if it helps stock your local store with a few odds and ends that are actually helpful, it won’t hurt to let your voice be heard.

This satirical The Onion article summarizes the predicament of RadioShack quite well:

Despite having been on the job for nine months, RadioShack CEO Julian Day said Monday that he still has "no idea" how the home electronics store manages to stay open.

"There must be some sort of business model that enables this company to make money, but I'll be damned if I know what it is," Day said. "You wouldn't think that people still buy enough strobe lights and extension cords to support an entire nationwide chain, but I guess they must, or I wouldn't have this desk to sit behind all day."

The retail outlet boasts more than 6,000 locations in the United States, and is known best for its wall-sized displays of obscure-looking analog electronics components and its notoriously desperate, high-pressure sales staff. Nevertheless, it ranks as a Fortune 500 company, with gross revenues of over $4.5 billion and fiscal quarter earnings averaging tens of millions of dollars.

"Have you even been inside of a RadioShack recently?" Day asked. "Just walking into the place makes you feel vaguely depressed and alienated. Maybe our customers are at the mall anyway and don't feel like driving to Best Buy? I suppose that's possible, but still, it's just...weird."

What do you think? Can RadioShack survive and recapture its glory days? Heck, when was the last time you were in one? (via cool-o-rama)

Wormwood: 100 g
Fennel (fruit): 50 g
Anise: 50 g
Mint: 15 g
Melissa: 8 g
Chamomile: 3 g
Cumin: 10 g
Angelica: 10 g
It would be nice to add 5-10 g of hyssop, but it is difficult to find.

And then later another round of herbs.

Melissa: 8 g
Licorice: 10 g
Mint: 15 g
Chamomile: 2 g
Angelica: 2 g

One of the steps is to put the concoction away for two weeks, presumably to give you time to ponder the wisdom of the whole enterprise. Link -via Dangerous Minds

I get lots of text messages, more than I would like really. I have received a few that had directions or other important details that I would like to print out. I wouldn’t want to print them on the wall though like the printer contraption that designer Liat Segal has invented will do. It uses servos and markers to make the message in a series of dots and dashes as the user pulls it across the wall. It is a cool device, but very strange. The brains of the device is an Android smartphone. link

I am a a big fan of video games and if you have ever played the game Portal, you will recognize this DIY creation right away. The builder handcrafted the turret and it took about a month to build. It has motion detection, a laser pointer, and when it senses motion it plays the sound of bullets firing. It even has a button that plays the Portal theme song. I hope the next version incorporates NERF guns or Airsoft so the turret can really shoot. link

One of the best shooter-style video games I have played in a long time is Dead Space 2. The game was lots of fun, and it has one of the more interesting weapons to be in a video game called the plasma cutter. If you purchased the collector’s edition of Dead Space 2, you would have received a little plastic replica of that plasma cutter to play with. One gamer took that plastic toy and grafted blue laser pointers onto it that are powerful enough to light matches and pop balloons. link

Remember the video of the impossible waterfall? Even after you saw how it was done, you were still impressed. Now Instructables has step-by-step instructions for you to make your own 3D version of the famous illusion! It’s not exactly simple, but it can be done. And if you can pull it off, you’ll flummox everyone who sees it. Link -via Boing Boing

Why are giant eggs hollow and small eggs full of sugary creme? Several years ago, we brought you the recipe for making your own Giant Cadbury Creme Egg. Epic Pudding Time shows you a shortcut to making your giant egg by using existing eggs in this video. -via the Presurfer

Inventables is a store where you can find special materials for filmmaking effects or for science demonstrations -or just for fun! If you’re going to smash through a window, consider making a pane of rubber glass. Mix two chemicals together and mold it into whatever glass or ice shape you need, then let it cure for a day. Once cured, it will look like glass, but cut your skin like rubber (meaning it won’t). They also have bendable wood, stainless steel paint, aluminum foam, and squishy magnets. Link -via Metafilter

You’ve probably seen kits that will carbonate your drinks at home. Did you know you can do the same thing with fruit? Fizzy fruit? Rich Faulhaber made a machine to do it, and says the kids love fizzy grapes, oranges, and blueberries. He shows you how you can do it yourself at Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. Link

If you were impressed by QLOCKTWO, but were put off by the price tag, you might want to make your own! The materials total less than $100, but you need a bit of know-how to pull it off. Instructables has your directions. Link -via a comment at reddit

Isn’t this an adorable house? You almost expect to see Frodo coming out of it! Owen Geiger built this earthen dome in Thailand in 2007. The main component is bags of soil. You can build your own with his tutorial at Instructables. Link -via The Daily What

Not only is this super cool, it’s homemade! Instructables user chr posted the entire process, with pictures. This project is entered into a contest where the rules were “Make something awesome”. I think he did. Link -via The Daily What

These are ten-sided fuzzy dice for geeks to hang in their car. Each is a decahedron known as a pentagonal trapezohedron. And you can make them yourself, with instructions from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories. Link

They look like a floating Christmas trees! These are mobiles: tree ornaments suspended from above by invisible filament. So easy to put gifts underneath! Link to pictures. Link to instructions. -via Laughing Squid

This bag doesn’t reflect light -it produces its own light! The secret is electro luminescent wire and batteries. Ladyada and Becky Stern used the wire to make a Tron-flavored messenger bag. Once you get the technique down, you can use electro luminescent wire to spice up any clothing or fabric items. Complete instruction and a video will show you how. Link -via Lifehacker

This wooden roller coaster called the Reverse Cowgirl was built by Mike Nawrot and Romain Teil for Rush Week at MIT. I would find this totally terrifying. Link -via the Daily What

On the one hand, this plan involves a lot of time and expense just to scare birds, especially as they will get used to it eventually. On the other hand, if the purpose is to give us a laugh, it works nicely! -via the Presurfer

The world’s greatest dad (Steve Moseley) installed a marble run all around his son’s bedroom. See how he did it at Instructables. Link -via NeatoBambino

Instructables member Shawn Melito designed and built a special “water scooter” for his then-5-year-old daughter, who has Cerebral Palsy. This gave her buoyancy, mobility, and independence on the water -under supervision, of course. He explains how he he built at at the link. Then comes the kicker:

BTW – After two seasons of use my daughter has grown out of this, but it still works great. It is free to the first person who has a disabled child the right size that can use it safely. We live near Toronto, Ontario.

Link -via NeatoBambino

Mike Szczys went all out this Halloween and installed a matrix of 70 LEDs in a pumpkin! The result is a way to scroll messages in the dark for visitors and trick-or-treaters. See a video of the Jack-o-Lantern in action, and the complete process of building it at Hack a Day. Link -Thanks, Mike!

This homemade Halloween mask looks just like a Storm Trooper helmet, but it started out as two milk jugs! You can make one, too, with the step-by-step instructions at Filth Wizardry. Link -via Buzzfeed

One thing that can make you feel better about the weird things in your home is to see how much worse it could be. A plumbing information site compiled stories, links, and videos of plumbing disasters that range from “substandard” to “Rube Goldberg”! Link -via Dark Roasted Blend

Have you ever thought about building your own claw game? Winning is easier when you don’t have to feed money into the machine! Will Gorman was inspired by Toy Story to construct one for his son out of Lego bricks. The complete instructions are posted at BattleBricks. Link

I have four teenagers who each have various small rechargeable gadgets. The chargers are hooked up all over the house, which means cords go everywhere. This little project might make things easier for parents and dogs who tend to trip over cords. It’s a pocket to hold your device as it’s recharging -made out of a shampoo bottle! Find the instruction at Make. Link -via Unique Daily

This video showcases the presentation and effect of a simple yet confusing puzzle.  It incorporates basic geometry, but it is surprising and potentially baffling at first glance.  A step-by-step tutorial on how to make one can be found at Instructables. Link

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by nicnac.